Customer Reviews

The Last Girl

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Ever since 70-year-old Larry Mann set eyes on 23-year-old Amanda, the new tenant at a boarding house in London, he was convinced that she would be his new best friend. He is lonely and convinced that Amanda is his soulmate. Shy and depressed, Amanda has no idea how to turn his desperate attempts at kindness -- buying gifts, making tea parties, becoming her confidant -- down, especially when Francis, her lover, begins to spend weekends with her. Larry's intentions are good -- or are they? Is there something sinister behind his persuasiveness with Amanda? This extremely shocking, chilling, haunting and original thriller will keep you turning the pages until its disturbing conclusion. I marvel at the unique narration; Larry's voice drips with contempt and obsession. Penelope Evans has written an incredible thriller that should be devoured within days. Read it!

Larry Mann is a lonely old lodger in England. His only neighbors are his grouchy landlord downstairs, Ethel, and her dying, war-vet husband. Ethel has rented the remaining empty rooms to Indian girls for the past decade. Larry hasn't attempted to befriend these girls, as they are culturally different and tend to keep to themselves and never ask of ol' Larry's assistance. Yet, one day Larry is shocked to come home and find a fellow English girl by the name of Amanda. She's extrememly timid and not strikingly attractive, but Larry finds himself drawn to this mysterious young lady. Larry is convinced that the world has been cruel to Mandy, just as it has been to himself. He's certain they must be kindred spirits. Soon, Larry is going all out to accomadate his Mandy. He's buying her snacks, cigarettes, and even buys a bird so that Mandy can play with it when she comes up to visit. Mandy's a busy college student, but Larry manipulates her so as to be worked into her daily routine. Larry will do ANYTHING for a friend. Read this book to see what kind of mind lurks behind the wrinkled forehead of ol' Larry. The chilling prose of this book delves deep into a mind that not only revulses the reader but also encourages sympathy. Penelope Evans' words will chill you as you read this classic thriller! Buy it today!

This book was a wonderful work of psychological suspense; it showed how a seemingly innocent interest can turn into obsession and from obsession into--well--sheer terror.

Evans shows marvelous insight into the character of Larry, man who is both pathetic and monstrous, yet always human, disturbingly so. A brilliant job!

Story of an over-friendly old man, Larry, who showered his young female neighbour, Amanda, with gifts and attention, and thought he knew what she was feeling and what was best for her. What he did not know (but what we readers know), is that his attention was unwanted and that he is clearly a psychopath. The story, told by Larry himself, is all the more creepy as we read Larry's abnormal thoughts, but yet he was able to rationalise to himself that all he was doing was normal. A good book to recommend to people who like suspense which builds up from the first page and does not last end the last page.

Penelope Evans introduces us to the narrator of her riveting debut novel, The Last Girl. In doing so, she unleashes the reclusive old man who delights in the possibility of a friendship with a lonely college student, who moves into the boarding house where he has lived the past 43 years of his life. Amanda Tyson, wealthy 20 year old, is estranged from her family. This knowledge, and Amanda's obvious social shyness, is all Larry Mann needs to conclude that he alone knows what "his Mandy" needs to be happy in life. He goes to obsessive extremes to create the only "relationship" that his Mandy needs, never "allowing" her to avoid his offerings of friendship. What Larry is really trying to do, however, is buy the little girl he lost when his wife and daughter left with another man several years before. Mandy, a young woman, had better realize that she is his little girl. Larry Mann likes innocence. Who knows how it will affect him if he finds something else. And with unlocked doors, both he and the nosy landlady on the first floor know everything! going on in Amanda Tyson's quarters. A compelling read, yet I was afraid to look at the final chapter! Chilling and disturbing!

"The Last Girl" is the story of Larry, an old age pensioner, living in a boarding house in London. When Mandy, a young woman, rents rooms in the house, Larry becomes obsessed with befriending her. The problem is that Larry is not just looking for a friend; rather, he is looking to possess Mandy. He will settle for nothing less than her spending all her time with him, having no other friends and comporting herself in a manner he considers proper for a young lady.

The story is told in Larry words with very little dialogue. Larry is the "star" of this story and everything that happens evolves around how it affects him. In his mind, nothing else exists but his needs and his feelings.

Did I like "The Last Girl?" Well, that depends on which part of the book I was reading. I found the first part of the book to be repetitive, rambling and often boring. Then about one-third through the book a light went off. I realized that I was not reading mindless dialogue but was inside the mind of a madman. At that point, I was fascinated, repulsed and sitting on the edge of my seat as the tension subtly escalated. Larry's skewed and self-absorbing view of the world and his relationship with Mandy often made me want to throttle him. This part of the book I thoroughly enjoyed. If a character can evoke such a strong reaction from a reader, in my opinion, it is a good book. However, I thought the ending was predictable and a bit of a let down. With all the possibilities available to Ms. Evans, I was looking forward to a real shocker.

This is a book that requires a commitment from the reader. Initially, it is not a fast read and you have to plow through some less-than-exciting reading to reach that point where the book grabs you. Oh, if only the book had ended with the crescendo begun midway through. For this reason, I only feel comfortable giving the book three stars.

I loved this book!!! I don't think that Larry (the main character) is a psychopath; he's just very misguided and interprets situations very differently than other people. He means well, and is often hurt and disappointed when his 'kindness' isn't reciprocated. I was amazed by his ability to put a spin on things thus making them right again. And apart from the great content of this book I fell in love with the way the story was told. I never read a book quite like this one.

When Larry Mann is introduced to his new shy neighbour, Amanda, he decides that he is going to be her best friend. Slowly but surely he invades her life, buying her presents so she feels indebted to him, cooking her food, and giving her tips on how to deal with the land lady. Amanda doesn't want to seem rude, so she doesn't encourage him, but he's just a lonely old man, so what harm could he do?

This book will have you cringeing all the way to end, when good old Larry shows another side to his character. It has wonderful characterisation and l will look forward to reading more from this author.

Larry Mann has a nasty secret! We'll find out about it at the chilling, yet inevitable, end of this taught psychological thriller. In the meantime, the eerie trip to the climax is like a carnival ride, slow to start out but building up speed to an exhilarting ending. Larry is a seventy-ish bloke living in Ethel Duck's boarding house close to 43 years. He befriends a young college student, Amanda Tyson - Mandy, my love to "good ol' Larry". Through each chilling chapter he moves to possess her. At first, I thought there was a lack of dialogue, but further reading shows that there is tons of dialogue - it's just all in Larry's head.

Is Larry really evil or is he really just a victim of self deception? Is he being polite by leaving cigarettes in her apartment? When he hears from Mandy that she walks to college, he checks to find out that it is 3 miles away - just because he is interested, right? One night, when Mandy doesn't show up to join him, he blames his brother-in-law Harry for showing up instead. On the one hand, he says, "Larry Mann is not the sort to go poking his nose anywhere that he's not wanted". Yet, in the next paragraph he sneaks into her apartment looking for clues.

Once Mandy's lover, Francis, appears on the scene, Larry will pull out all of the stops to keep her. Here the story takes a darker turn. When Mandy receives a letter from her mother apologizing for a family transgression, Larry not only opens it and blames Ethel Duck's snooping on the reason Mandy would write to her mother in the first place. After buying a Christmas present for Mandy, he buys one FROM her to him, just the same way he leaves cards from his estranged daughter, June, for himself. Self deception? Or something darker? If you like Ruth Rendell, you'll love this first effort by Penelope Evans. Instead of fearing things that go bump in the night, you'll wind up fearing people that say, "How goes it old kid?"

This book was one of the worst I've ever read. Very slow moving, very boring, building up to a climax which isn't worth the wait. I don't know how it managed to get published at all. It would be more interesting to read the back of a cereal box.